To reinforce his point, he even pledged to seek city funds for a proposed homeless shelter for gay teens in Humboldt Park. 'I would tell [critics]: Isn't it ironic that you're asking me to be tolerant and you're intolerant to my beliefs. How is that? [De Jesus] said. 'We already know there are differences. Let's put that to the side. What's hurting our community today? Let's focus on that.'

Much of the opposition to De Jesus stems from previous public statements and information on the church's Web site. In an interview last year, De Jesus told Christianity Today that his paramount priorities were opposing abortion and homosexuality. In a neighborhood newspaper story about a proposed new high school geared toward gay students, De Jesus raised the specter of a virgin being harassed by gays or lesbians to have sex.

And a member of De Jesus' congregation posted a testimonial on the church Web site about how she 'started doing drugs, drinking, partying, gang banging, fighting and hanging with the wrong crowd. I also lived a lifestyle of homosexuality and sexual immorality.' Through the church, she wrote, "I was delivered from homosexuality, anger, bitterness and resentment.'"

De Jesus is the senior pastor of 4,000-member New Life Covenant Ministries, which is affiliated with the charismatic and very anti-gay Assemblies of God/Pentecostal movement. The Tribune also claims "some gay residents [say] De Jesus' record of community service should trump any concerns about his religious views." None were quoted by name and it's difficult to imagine they would be welcome at De Jesus' church.

Julio Rodriguez, president of the Association of Latino Men for Action,
a Chicago-based gay advocacy group, disputes De Jesus' statements that his
religious views are irrelevant. Rodriguez tells the Tribune: "We don't see how someone who has
such a strong foundation with his church can separate his belief system
[from] his public role, even though he thinks he can."

Mayor Daley has until August 1 to fill the 26th Ward City Council seat, which was vacated when former Ald. Bill Ocasio became an adviser to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Comments

How could his religious beliefs NOT influence his policy-making?
I thought the whole point of religious beliefs was that it infects every part of your life and your thinking? From your relationships, your job, to where you choose to live...
Freedom of religion?
How about freedom FROM religion?

it's sad for me. i met a couple of his members right before Rod posted the first story about him. they invited me to a service and i liked it - was very comfortable and considered visiting again. to then find out about his views is heartbreaking but we all know he's going to say whatever he has to in order to get in.

What is sad to me is that he focuses on abortion & homosexuality when there are a host of other issues impacting the community he serves that he will ignore. Latino and Black anti-gay preachers get me in this way: our people have important needs not being met while you rail against gay folks.

I was one of 30 people who attended a meeting at La Bruquena restaurant a few weeks ago with Pastor De Jesús, which included mostly Puerto Rican representatives of different community organizations that deal with LGBTQ issues. Sadly, the vast majority of those who attended did not live in the 26th Ward. Interestingly enough, it was from those who did not live here that questions about important community issues like gentrification, the development of Paseo Boricua, violence, and education ...etc were absent. It was from those activists who live and work in this community, who organize LGBTQ events (which most of De Jesús' discontents do not attend), and fight homophobia and transphobia on a daily basis in the schools, programs, and institutions of Humboldt Park, that a real dialogue took place. Please name an evangelical pastor who would meet with a group of LGBTQ leaders? Which evangelical pastor would explain herself/himself on hers/his beliefs to such a group? Which evangelical pastor would support the construction of a gay homeless shelter in Humboldt Park that Vida/SIDA is doing? None, except for Pastor Choco!

I would've rather had this SOB simply ignore the LGBT meeting because his statements don't offer any new insight and is the same tired BS we hear on a daily basis from our communities. You can take Pastor Choco and shove him up you know where.

Oh and once more Xavier, go to Hell! Interesting you don't point out his inflammatory statements about LGBT harrasing poor virgins, which means he thinks of us as sex-starved maniacs trying to get in bed with everyone. Great blog, btw, such a insightful source! With barely any comments and reek of nationalisim.

But it brings a smile to my face knowing those from the island view Nuyoricans and Stateside Puerto Ricans as vermin who, as well as those from la isla, view LGBT are vermin but are the same pile of s*ht to the elist, ruling class of America. For a group of people that complain about racism, don't forget the treatment of our darker-skinned skin in Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America. And the "We pretend love Black people but secretely hate them" crowd as well! We all know there's plenty fo them in the Latino/Puerto Rican community too!